Egg-case



(No Model.)

T. P. W.'SCHMIDT.

EGG CASE.

NO. 601,449. Patented Mar. 29, 1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE F. W. SCHMIDT, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO THE J. W. SEFTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EGG-OAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 601,449, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed September 27, 1897. $erial No. 653,187. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE, F. W. SCHMIDT, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison, in the State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Egg-Cases, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention has for its object the production of a simple, convenient, and efficient eggcase for retail trade, each case being preferably arranged to hold one dozen eggs. Its novelty will be hereinafter explained, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete case, with cross-section.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The complete case consists, essentially, of three parts-a suitable box or inclosin g case, preferably formed of a single sheet of heavy paper or light strawboard, a strip of corrugated paper fitting in the bottom of said box or case, either loosely or secured to said bot: tom, and a filler or set of partitions fitting within the box to divide its interior into separate cells for the reception of the eggs, the cross-pieces of such set of partitions or filler projecting at their lower edges below the longitudinal strip of the partitions and fitting in the grooves of the corrugated paper, whereby they are held in proper position transversely of the case and displacement of them prevented.

In the accompanying drawings the box or casing inclosing the partitions is shown formed of a single sheet of paper, composed of a body portion A and a hinged top portion or lid B, the latter being provided with a flap C, adapted to be tucked down within the front wall of the body of the box, between said wall and the front edges of the cross-partitions, to hold the lid closed. The inner thicknesses of the end walls of the box are also shown provided with vertical extensions or flaps D D, adapted to be bent inward and downward to horizontal position at the opposite ends of the box before the box is closed by its lid B in the manner described.

In the present instance the box is shown of suitable size and proportion to accommodate two longitudinal rows of six eggs each, and the filler consists of a middle longitudinal strip E and a series of cross-pieces F.

The method of securing the cross-pieces F to the longitudinal strip E will be apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, where it will be seen that the longitudinal strip E is provided with a series of notches G in its upper and lower edges, while each cross-piece F is provided with a middle vertical slot H, connected at its lower end with the lower edge of the crosspiece by a curved slit 1, which arrangement permits the cross-piece to be readily slipped over and applied to the longitudinal strip E and held in the notches of the latter. This particular method of attaching the cross pieces to the longitudinal strip is not essential, although believed to be novel; but it is to be noted that each of the cross-pieces projects below the lower edge of the longitudinal strip, which feature is novel and is essential to their proper cooperation with the corrugated bottom of the box. This corrugated bottom consists of a strip of corrugated paper J of approximately the size of the bottom of the box, with its corrugations running transversely thereof. It may be glued or otherwise permanently secured to the bottom of the box; but I prefer to place it loosely in the box and to have its length slightly less than that of the bottom of the box to facilitate the fitting of the lower edges of the cross-pieces Finto its corrugations. In assembling the parts the corrugated bottom strip is placed in the bottom of the box and the filler or set of partitions placed upon it. By a very slight manipulation of the partitions the lower edge of each one of the cross-pieces F may be readily seated in one of the transverse grooves of the corrugated bottom, and when so seated the grooves will effectively hold the crosspieces in proper position transversely of the box, so that the cells formed by the partitions may be readily filled with eggs.

The body A of the box is formed slightly flaring, so that a series of empty boxes with their lids open may be nested together and stored or shipped in compact form. The 'fill ers or sets of partitions will likewise be flattened out to fit compactly together for storage orshipment with the boxes.

per forward corners of the cross-pieces F are rounded ofi to facilitate the insertion of the flap 0 of the lid between the front edges of the cross-pieces F and the front wall of the box.

I am aware that egg-cases intended for the same purpose as mine and composed of a box similar to mine and containing a filler composed of a middle longitudinalstripand aseries of cross-pieces dividing the box into one dozen egg-cells have heretofore been used to, a limited extent; but such boxes have not proved a success in the commercial handling of eggs, because they embodied no means for holding the cross-pieces of the filler in proper transverseposition. In the absence of any such means such cross-pieces are readily displacedfrom proper position, and in ordinary rapidhandling and assembling of the cases they will stand in various irregular positions, requiring them to be properly straighten ed as the case is filled with eggs.

In the commercial handling of eggs under the present general practice the cases are filled with eggs at the time the eggs are tested by candling them, and inasmuch as the eggs are handled with great rapidity in such operation it is necessary, unless the speed of the work is to be seriously interfered with, that the cells of the cases in which the tested eggs are to be placed shall be ready to receive them Without the necessity for anyadjustment of the partitions. My improved eggcase meets this requirement completely and overcomes the objections which have proved commercially fatal to the similar egg-cases not embodying my improvement.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, I claim- 1. The herein described egg-case, consisting of the long narrow box adapted to receive two longitudinal rows of eggs, 'the corrugated bottom in said box having its corrugations extending transversely thereof, and the filler or set of partitions fitting within the box and composed of a middle longitudinal strip and In the box shown in the drawings the upa series of cross-pieces attached to said strip and projecting below its lower edge and fitting the transverse grooves in the corrugated bottom, substantially as described.

2. Theherein-described egg-case,composed of the box having its body A, lid B, and flap 0 formed of a single piece of paper, the corrugated'bottom J in said box, and the set of partitions fitting in the box and composed of the middle longitudinal strip E and the crosspieces F attached thereto and projecting below its edge and fitting in the transverse grooves in the corrugated bottom J, substan tially as described.

3. The herein-described egg-case, com posed of the box having its body A, hinged lid B,

- flap O, and end flaps D D formed of a single sheet of paper,the corrugated bottom J loosely fitting in said box and adjustable longitudinally thereof, and the set of partitions fitting in said boxand composed of the middlelongitudinal strip E and the cross-pieces F attached thereto and projecting below its lower edge and fitting in the transverse grooves of the corrugated bottom J, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the box and its corrugated bottom, of the longitudinal strip E provided with the notches G in its upper and lower edges, and the cross-pieces F pro- V'idedwith the middle vertical slots H and curved slits I cooperating with the notches G in the strip E in the manner described, and projecting below the lower edge of the strip 

